Nekomata Station
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Nekomata Station 猫又駅 | |||||||
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 Nekomata Station in 2011 | |||||||
| General information | |||||||
| Location | Kurobe, Toyama Japan | ||||||
| Coordinates | 36°44′59″N 137°38′31″E / 36.7497°N 137.6419°E | ||||||
| Elevation | 358 meters | ||||||
| Owned by | Kurobe Gorge Railway | ||||||
| Distance | 11.8 km from Unazuki Station | ||||||
| Platforms | Island platform | ||||||
| Tracks | Two | ||||||
| History | |||||||
| Opened | October 23, 1926 | ||||||
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Nekomata Station (Japanese: 猫又駅, Hepburn: Nekomata-eki) is a railway station operated by Kurobe Gorge Railway in Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture, Japan. It is the only station in Japan that has the Japanese word for "cat" in its name.
There are two theories for why the station was named Nekomata (猫又). One suggests that it was derived from a local legend about a cliff where a mouse, unable to climb it while being pursued by a cat, found itself trapped. As a result, both the mouse and the cat were forced to turn back. Another is believed that the station name was derived from the Nekomata, a mythical cat yōkai. It is the only station in Japan that includes the word "neko" (猫; lit. 'cat').[1][2][3][4]
Location
The train station is located along the Kurobe River. It is situated 358 meters above sea level. Kansai Electric Power's Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant is located across the river.[2] It is about 50 minutes from Unazuki Station.[5]
Due to its location, the train station is only accessible from April to the end of November.[2][6]
History
Nekomata Station started operation on October 23, 1926. The station was built for construction workers working at the Nekomata Dam. At the time it was the terminus of the Kurobe Private Railway.[1] It was then used as an intermediate station for train operators and the maintenance and management crew of the Kurobe River No. 2 Power Plant.[2][3]
After the 2024 Noto earthquake, Kanetsuri Bridge, part of the Kurobe Gorge Railway, was severely damage by falling rocks and the station was used as a turning station.[5] The platform was reopened for general passengers on October 5, 2024.[1] Following the opening of the station to general passengers and as an effort to make the station widely known, Kurobe Gorge Railway appointed a cat as the "honorary assistant" of the station.[2][7]
